Fantasy, mystery, self-realization and romance are not often fused together in one novel. However, in The Seduction of Water, Carol Goodman weaves fairy tales into a mystery thriller about a woman on a journey of self-discovery.
The novel follows Iris Greenfeder, the daughter of a renowned fantasy writer who died in a hotel fire when Iris was 10. Now 40, Iris feels dominated by all the “buts” in her life: all-but-dissertation (ABD), all-but-published, all-but-a-professor and all-but-married. However, when Iris writes a short story based on a folk tale her mother used to tell, she catches the attention of a magazine publisher and of her mother’s former book agent. Both convince Iris to go back to her childhood home and seek out her mother’s story — and her mother’s rumored last manuscript.
What follows is Iris’s journey of self-discovery as she seeks the truth about her mother’s writing, her past and her death. In looking to solve the mystery of her mother’s death, Iris uncovers the secrets of her mother’s life and identity. While her mother’s death left Iris feeling unloved and lost, the knowledge of her true story brings clarity to her life and closure to the gaping holes in her identity. Iris is no longer “all but” — she is complete with her knowledge of her mother.
Author Carol Goodman uses first person narrative and the language and imagery of fairy tales to create an engaging piece of literature that keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat, trying to guess what will happen next. The inclusion of Irish folktales and the parallels between the stories and the events in the novel gives The Seduction of Water a stylized voice. Vivid characters and a moving, brisk storyline make the novel a quick and enjoyable read.
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